Realt Teaching and Learning Programme

The Réalt Teaching and Learning Programme began in 1998. To date it facilitated hundreds of student teachers and practicing teachers in gaining invaluable, immersive, personal and professional experiences of teaching, learning and living for a significant period of time in an African setting. It had also facilitated visits to Ireland from representatives of partner institutions in Uganda.

Up until October 2017, Réalt operated as a formally adopted inter-college programme across three Dublin teacher training colleges: Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines; Marino Institute of Education, Clontarf; St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. This programme had evolved from earlier placement programmes coordinated by the individual colleges and other agencies, and its activities have been informed by the experience of these. In 2017, the programme was discontinued in Marino Institute of Education and it was incorporated as part of the two remaining colleges into the DCU, Institute of Education. It is now a fully integrated programme of that Institute.

The main advantage of its longevity is that the Réalt Teaching and Learning programme has developed considerable experience in providing quality placements and has developed a considerable network of reliable and committed partners in this connection.

The Réalt teaching and learning programme is one of the ways in which the Institute of Education, DCU expresses its commitment to enhancing the preparation of student teachers and producing more experienced and rounded educators. With its focus on orientation and preparation, critical ‘field’ experience and sustained debriefing and follow-up work, the Réalt programme aims to increase the likelihood that issues related to development, intercultural education, sustainability and global citizenship will be more competently and sensitively addressed in schools. It believes that the involvement of teachers who have who have gained enhanced personal experience, understanding and increased pedagogical skill in these areas will greatly enhance the capacity of the schools in which they work to do so.

Involvement in activities for Irish participants is open to students from teacher training courses operating within the Institute of Education, DCU. A formal selection process will determine the final composition of the participant group, including completion of the appropriate application form (download here) and interview.

A maximum of 20 places will be available in the 2019-20 academic period (placement to occur over the summer of 2020). To be accepted for the programme, participants must agree in writing to participate fully in all aspects of preparation, orientation and follow-up work associated with their placement. They will also be expected to engage in a range of fund-raising activities to finance their involvement and to subsidise that of partner institutions. Finally, they will be asked to sign a Volunteer Charter and abide by its commitments.

Once they have successfully completed orientation, applicants will be offered an 8-week voluntary placement in an African setting from mid-June to mid-August. For the summer of 2020 all placements will be organised within Ugandan Teacher Training colleges, including St. Lawrence College PTC, Boroboro, Lira; Canon Apolo PTC, Fort Portal; Bishop Stuart College, Mbarara; Kiyoora PTC, Ntungamo district; and Bukinda Core PTC, Kabale. Within these institutions, Réalt participants work alongside their Ugandan student teacher counterparts and with a number of college tutors. They also teach in local schools and engage in community initiatives operating in adjacent areas.

• Teachers can act as powerful mediators of appropriate development messages and of successful development education in schools; their ability to exercise this role is largely dependent on their fundamental beliefs, understanding and implicit knowledge.
• Teaching and social experiences in African/Irish settings can be highly transformative for participants, both professionally and personally.
• Immersive teaching and social experiences in Africa/Ireland must be supported by critical engagement and reflection by the participants before, during and after their placement.
• Learning associated with participation in the programme should be reciprocal, in that staff, students, colleges and schools in both Uganda and Ireland should benefit educationally and culturally from taking part.

For those interested in participating in the programme, it is strongly advised that you attend one of the information seminars organised for your year group. You should also take time to chat with like-minded friends in the Institute (and perhaps your family) about the possibility of taking part. We can promise an experience that will change how you see the world; one you will never forget!